The vacant lot at 10-12 E. Second St., along with the remaining building at 8 E. Second Street.
State
JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council learned Monday that a downtown building will remain standing after it was deemed structurally sound by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
During the council work session City Development Director Vince DeJoy said that the building located at 8 E. Second Street was scheduled for demolition because it was attached to another structure at 10-12 E. Second St. that had fallen into disrepair, had a partial collapse, and was eventually demolished in late 2016.
But because the remaining building is in the Jamestown historic district, SHPO determined it shouldn’t be torn down because it was still structurally sound.
As a result, DeJoy said the city is now working to help redevelop the building and will transfer ownership – pending City Council approval next week – to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency (JURA). JURA will also acquire the adjacent vacant lot where the previous building once stood from the Chautauqua County Land Bank. The two parcels will be packaged together for development, with one prospective developer planning to turn the second and third floors of the standing building into a downtown apartment.
DeJoy said some federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money could also be applied to the building to assist with the development cost.
The hearing on how the city plans to spend over $1.4 million from the latest round of CDBG and HOME funding will take place next Monday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Jamestown City Council chambers. The council will vote on transferring the property later that night during its monthly voting session at 7:30 p.m.
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